Fame and the Force

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Corellia, seven days before the Holo-Net concert

It was a beautiful spring morning when Nexx Turner confidently drove his hover-car up to the gates that protected Evin Dayun's estate from intruders. A DT model sentry droid, one that had been heavily modified to appear and act somewhat less intimidating than the Imperial models used during the Empire's reign of terror, stood watch. The unit moved forward, its red photoreceptor focused on the visitor. It had been programmed to allow entry to the many musicians and backup singers that Han employed, but it did not recognize this human.

"Do you have an appointment?" the droid said in its mechanical voice through the closed gate.

"No, but Daysun will want to see me," Turner replied. "Or I can see Princess Organa. I don't care which of the two I speak to."

"This is highly unusual," the droid remarked. "My programming does not permit me to accept unauthorized visitors, nor does it allow me to contact Master Daysun or Mistress Leia in order for them to speak directly to unauthorized visitors." It turned its head briefly toward the road before refocusing on Turner. "Traffic is clear. You may now safely depart the drive. Move along."

"I have no intentions of leaving," Turner said snidely, nodding toward the small gathering of fans milling around outside the gate as they hoped to get a glimpse of their idol. "You wouldn't want me to cause a scene in front of all Daysun's fans, would you? Or, perhaps they might find themselves in a bit of trouble if my vehicle should suddenly lose control as I leave. Do you understand what I'm saying, droid?

"You are threatening innocent lives. That information requires me to contact the head of security."

"By the time he arrived, it would be too late. You wouldn't want to be responsible for unnecessary violence, would you?"

"No. It is against my programming to allow innocent beings to come to harm."

"I'm glad we understand each other. Now, be a good droid and give Daysun a comm, but don't you dare comm Security. I know Daysun's home because his big concert's only seven days away and I'm certain he's busy rehearsing."

"I will comm Master Daysun."

Turner watched in triumph as the DT droid stepped back and lifted its arm, speaking into a built-in microphone. Some long minutes later a hover-car drove up from inside the compound, however it wasn't Daysun that exited, nor was it the head of security. Instead, it was Jedi Master Luke Skywalker with the woman he assumed was his wife. Both were carrying their lightsabers prominently attached to their belts, and Turner suddenly lost much of his confidence. The droid opened the gate and the two Jedi approached his hover-car.

Trying to bluff his way through this unexpected difficulty, Turner said, "You're not Daysun. I told that stupid droid I only wanted to speak to Daysun."

"This is close enough," Luke said, his expression grim. "You will leave your hover-car at the gate and come with us."

In a much lower voice so that the nearby fans wouldn't overhear, Mara added, "If you try anything funny, you'll be missing an arm."

Swallowing down his fear, Turner got out of his own vehicle, shocked as Skywalker reached under Turner's coat and removed his hidden blaster without even needing to pat him down. Perhaps all the rumors about Jedi were true, and suddenly Turner felt that perhaps the notion of blackmailing Organa and Daysun hadn't been such a grand idea after all. He should have simply gone public with his information and crushed their images. But, despite the fact Isolder's stash had made him wildly rich, he had wanted more. Not factoring in Jedi was a serious oversight on his part.